Laguna Madre Park Improvements in Port Isabel, TX

The City of Port Isabel filed a new construction project for the Laguna Madre Park Improvements at 190 Port Road. This $3,500,000 development spans 100,000 sq ft and includes new baseball fields, concession and restroom facilities, a multi-use trail, picnic stations, fitness equipment, and a playground. Hanson Professional Services Inc. serves as the design firm of record for this public land project.

TDLR completed plan review in August 2024, with construction scheduled to begin in September 2024. The filing indicated a completion date of March 2025. However, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, so the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record. The project remains in a status where the physical completion is not yet verified by the state agency.

Project Scope and Cost Context

The estimated cost of $3,500,000 places this project above the median estimated cost for new construction filings in Cameron County, which is $500,000. The size of 100,000 sq ft is significantly larger than the county median of 6,357 sq ft. The cost per square foot is $35, which is below the county median of $98. The scheduled build window of 181 days is shorter than the county median of 254 days.

The City of Port Isabel has registered three other projects totaling $1,820,000. These include the Bejerano McFarland Trail in Laguna Heights, Washington Park in Port Isabel, and Arturo Galvan Coastal Park in Port Isabel. Hanson Professional Services Inc. has six other registered projects totaling $18,962,668, including the North Padre Island Seawall in Corpus Christi and Alameda Street in Corpus Christi.

Local Area and Labor Market

Port Isabel is located in Cameron County, with a population of about 10,231 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates for ZIP 78578. The median household income is $52,041, and the median owner-occupied home value is $193,700. Housing in this area is predominantly owner-occupied. Nearby businesses include Walmart Vision & Glasses, Walmart Auto Care Center, and Walmart Garden Center.

The Cameron County unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in August 2026, lower than a year earlier. This project involves public funds and public land. The registration with TDLR was in August 2024, and the plan review was completed in the same month. The project is categorized as New Construction under the TABS program.